Spring latch for takeup of a cabling machine



SPRING LATCH FOR TAKEUP F AJCABLING ,MACHINE chan e H Crosby, Cranford; William T. Hicks, Glen Rock, and Roger: R. Wahlberg; Bloomfield, NJ'J, assignors to WesternElectric Company, Incorporated,

ew York, N.Y., a1'corporation o New York Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,103

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-54) This invention relates to driving means for takeup reels particularly latches for connecting driving means to takeup reels.

In'the manufacture of cables, the cables or cable units, are wound upon reels, known in some instances as core trucks, mounted in takeup units for rotation about the .axis of the takeup unit and for rotation about their own axes disposed at right, angles to the axis of the takeup unit. Usually the reels initially are mounted vertically in thegtakeup' unit with a supporting center raised to hold the reel for rotation about its axis or center line after which a driving arm is lowered to engage one or more pins carried by the adjacent or upper end of the reel to impart the rotary motion to the reel to wind the cable thereom Various means have been employed to connect the driving arm with the pinsof reels but they all require special attention in making the connection.

An object of the present invention is a latch for adriving arm of a takeup reel which will automatically engage pins of a takeup reel.

In accordance with the object, the invention is a latch for an arm of a driving means in a takeup apparatus for connection with certain radially positioned pins mounted on one head of a takeup reel, the latch being movably supported in the arm and having tapered surfaces causing actuation of the latch "by a pin when moved into engagement therewith to bring about interengagement of the latch with the pin.

More specifically, the latch has a central notch to receive any of the pins of the reel and is urgedoutwardly to forceably maintain engagement of the latch with the pin. Both sides of the latch have diagonal surfaces which, when moved into engagement with a pin from either direction, will force the latch inwardly until the notch is i aligned with the pin. Also, the latch has a diagonal undersurface to cause inward movement of the latch against its forcing means to position the notch in registration with i the pin if engaged during movement of the arm downwardly into its driving position relative to the reel.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a driving means for a takeup reel embodying the invention; and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

It is believed that the general structure of a takeup unit for a stranding or cabling machine is well known in the art including the supporting means for the takeup reels or core trucks and also the driving means therefor. The disclosure is limited therefore to the featuresclosely associated with the invention including a takeup reel and a driving arm 11. The reel 10 is supported for rotation about its center line which is in alignment witha shaft 12 supporting the arm 11. The shaft 12 is connected to the reel driving means and is movable axially therewith to move the arm 11 from the dotted position shown in Fig. 2 to the solid line position shown therein.

12,939,642 Patented June 7, 1960 ice The mm 1 1 is formed with'hollow ends ltin whicli latches 15" andtheir forcing means or springs 16 are'dis posed. Outer portions '17" of the latches" 15-" are provided" witlr notches 18= for engagement with pins-19' mounted at The under surfaces of the portions 17 have diagonal portions 23 for engagement with the rounded outer ends of the pins 19 to cause actuation of the latches against their springs 16 if the latches should engage pins during the downward movement't-oward the reel.

Operation The mounting of the latches against spring pressure in the ends of the arm and the forming of the outer portions of the latches with tapered or diagonal surfaces 22 of predetermined angles leading to the notches adapt the arm for automatic connection with diametrically opposed pairs of pins during rotation in either direction. The automatic connection of the arm with. a pair of the pins is further assured by the diagonal under surfaces 23 of the latches permitting and causing action of the latches to engage the pins during movement of the arm into driving positioh I tionx1 fquired for connecting the drive means, terminating in the arm 11, with the takeup reel 10; The arm may be moved into position and started to rotate in either direction. The movement of the arm into driving position adjacent the reel 'ofthe subsequent movement of the arm about its axis in either direction will result, through the existence of the tapered or diagonal surfaces 22 and 23, in bringing about actuation of the latches against the forces of the springs to permit movement of the notches 18 into registration with and in engagement with aselective pair of pins.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a takeup apparatus removably rotatably supporting a takeup reel having radially positioned pins mounted on one head thereof aiid located like distances from the center of the reel for selective driving engagement with a driving means for the takeup reel including an arm driven in either direction about an axis coincident with the center of the takeup reel, a latch movably supported by the arm and having a recess in an outer end thereof for interlocking the arm with a selected one of the pins, means to urge the latch outwardly with respect to the arm to maintain driving connection between the arm and the selected pin, and tapered surfaces disposed on each side of the recess for movement of the latch against the urging means by.

any of the pins during relative movement of the arm and takeup reel in either direction to position the pin in the recess. I

2. In a takeup apparatus according to claim 1 in which the arm is moved axially toward the head of the reel into driving position with the reel, and a third tapered surface for thelatch is disposed facing the headof the reel to cause movement ofv the latch against-the urging means should the latch engage one of the pins while the arm is latch to receive the engaged pin.

'3. In a takeup apparatus removably rotatably support inga takeup reel having radially positioned pins mounted on one head thereof and located like distances in opposq d acent the reel. Therefore, no personal attenmoved axially toward the reel to cause the recess of the r ing pairs from the center ofvthe reel for selectivedriving engagement with a driving means for the takeup reel including an arm having a central axis, movable axially with the-center of the reel and about its axi's in either pins, means supported by the arm to urge the latches outwardly with respect to the arm to maintain driving tapered surfaces disposed on each side of Eeach recess for 4 v movement of thelatches against the urging means by any of the pairs of pins during relative movement of the arm and takeup reel in either direction to position the selected pair of pins in the recesses of the latches.

4. In a takeup apparatus according to claim 3 in which a thirdtapered surface for each latch is disposed facing the he ad of the reel to cause movement of each latch 4 against itsvurging means should the latch engage one of the pins while the arm is moved axially toward the reel 10 to caus'e the recess of each latch to receive its engaged pin. connections between the arm and the pairs of pins, and

No references cited. 

